Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern

By: Anne McCaffrey

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Another Turn, and the deadly silver Threads began falling again. So the bold dragonriders took to the air once more, and their magnificent flying dragons swirled and swooped, belching flames that destroyed the shimmering strands before they reach the ground.

"But F'lar knew he had to find a better way to protect his beloved Pern, and he had to find it before the rebellious Oldtimers could breed anymore dissent....before his brother F'nor would be foolhardy enough to launch another suicide mission...and before those dratted fire-lizards could stir up any more trouble!"

Book another flight with the Dragonriders of Pern.

©1971 Anne McCaffrey (P)1993 Brilliance Audio

Dragonquest Book 2 in the Dragonriders of Pern

My first introduction to Pern was through the Harper Hall trilogy which I absolutely love and recommend. The Dragonriders of Pern trilogy starts with Dragonflight. If you are completely new to Pern, it takes a little getting used to the names but don't let that put you off of a wonderful series. There are several websites out there that give you the chronological order of the entire series and this trilogy is in the middle. It is a good place to start for those new to Pern (it is where I started). Once I came to love Pern, I went back and read the earlier stories about Pern's history.

Second book just as good as the first offering.

Would you consider the audio edition of Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern to be better than the print version?

Not better. Just as good.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern?

F'nor's trip to the Red Star

What three words best describe Dick Hill’s voice?

Masculine, heavy, pleasant.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Chuckles at McCaffrey's turns of phrase. "They say, entirely too much!"

Any additional comments?

Nice to hear my favorite books and characters brought to new life. I have read them over and over and the narrations bring new structure and life to them I really appreciate.

40 years and still works for me

youthful favorite still holds up after 40 years..thank you A Mc. You got me through some hard times.

Love them all!

This second book of the Pern series is just as good as the first. This takes us more into the relationships of F'lar, F'lon, Lessa and a lot of new characters that I love and love to hate. More in depth as the explanation of the Red Star and threads is done. The introduction of fire lizards, the little ancestor of the dragons is in this volume. One of my favorite creatures, the colonizing of the Southern Weyr, and lots of dramatic moments. From the fight of the queens to the exploration of ways to stop thread at it's source, this one kept me hooked just like it did over 30 years ago.

The best written book in the world of dragons.

What made the experience of listening to Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern the most enjoyable?

Feels like I was riding on the back of a dragon for the first time again!

What did you like best about this story?

When F'nor finds Fire lizards. How I wish to have one of my own, when I was a child.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Very good. I loved his effect of "dragon speak".

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Drama and flights between dragonmen vs. Lord Holders vs. Oldtimers.

I now know why this series is beloved

I didn't really get into this series in my youth. I read the1st book but never really got into it. But I just decided that I should give it another shot. After recently listening to the1st book of the series (Dragonflight) I was still befuddled as to why this series is considered so important and is so beloved. But I'd already purchased the 2nd book, Dragonquest, in addition to the 1st book & decided to forge ahead. EUREKA! I now understand. The characters here are better developed, the plot so much more interesting & inventive. True, the narration is merely competent with frequent mispronunciations but despite that, I adored this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series with great anticipation.

Dragonquest

Fantastic. I am able to just immerse myself into this world. I can feel like I belong there. The characters are fantastically written and I feel myself becoming attached to them. There are also some that I just despise. I love this world that McCaffrey created. I love the history of it, but these books that I am reading now are at the heart of the world and what I loved about Pern.

This has been such a great reread. I am thoroughly enjoying reliving all of these events that were so long forgotten. So much goes on that it is hard to summarize. It is definitely not boring. There is always something happening. There is love and tragedy and perseverance. Great series to read.

My favorite book of the Series...of ALL the series

What did you love best about Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern?

Can't say it enough, McCaffrey was the best. I've read these book over and over for 25 years. In fact, these are one of the few sets of books I have reread. I normally don't do that...too many new books to read.

What other book might you compare Dragonquest: Dragonriders of Pern to and why?

All the others

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dick Hill is fine but like another review I wrote, the interactions between the dragons and their riders don't quite work. This may be a directorial choice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The F'Nor and Breke story is the best of the series. And, (no spoilers) what F"Nor and Canth do is the most powerful event of the first trilogy...maybe the entire series.

Any additional comments?

The directorial choice and Hills performance at the key Breke scene at the end fell flat. It is much more powerful when read. The rest of the book is very good.

Just as good as the first time.

Pern shaped my imagination 30 years ago. I haven't had time to read much in the past decade, but finding these novels on Audible made it worth the wait. Great narration of a fantastical world. This one is a favorite. Bless you, Anne McCafferty.

hasn't aged well...trigger warnings abound

(vague, general spoilers)

great story--but sadly marred by domestic violence, sexual assault, & sexism--by even the "heros" of Pern.

it's the fact it's the "good guys" doing some of the abuse. this kind of stuff has come up in several of the Pern books I've been re-visiting after 20+ years.

it would be different if the abuses were handled as something to be stopped, corrected, or even apologized for, --but it's not, it's considered normal. even the telepathically and empathetically bonded QUEEN dragons allow their riders to be so abused. That is where I have particular trouble suspending disbelief.